Renzo Piano Building Workshop designs

June 14, 2014 11:18 AM

A rendering at dusk of the proposed San Ramon City Center, designed by renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano and his firm.

A rendering at dusk of the proposed San Ramon City Center, designed by renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano and his firm.

Photo: Renzo Piano Building Workshop

A rendering at dusk of the proposed San Ramon City Center, designed... Photo-6450874.87870 - Beaumont Enterprise

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The new City Center proposed for suburban San Ramon by Renzo Piano Building Workshop. This view shows the exterior from Bollinger Canyon Road. Unlike most suburban complexes, it is designed to be open to pedestrians from all sides. less

The new City Center proposed for suburban San Ramon by Renzo Piano Building Workshop. This view shows the exterior from Bollinger Canyon Road. Unlike most suburban complexes, it is designed to be open to ... more

Photo: Renzo Piano Building Workshop

The new City Center proposed for suburban San Ramon by Renzo Piano... Photo-6442476.87870 - Beaumont Enterprise

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The piazza of new City Center proposed for suburban San Ramon by Renzo Piano Building Workshop. The first block, shown here, wraps two stories of shops and a cineplex around a "piazza." The block to the east is to be developed later, with housing and a hotel also designed by Piano's firm. less

The piazza of new City Center proposed for suburban San Ramon by Renzo Piano Building Workshop. The first block, shown here, wraps two stories of shops and a cineplex around a "piazza." The block to the east is ... more

Photo: Renzo Piano Building Workshop

The piazza of new City Center proposed for suburban San Ramon by... Photo-6442478.87870 - Beaumont Enterprise

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An overhead model of the new City Center proposed for suburban San Ramon by Renzo Piano Building Workshop. Part of the top layer is removed to reveal the parking inside.

An overhead model of the new City Center proposed for suburban San Ramon by Renzo Piano Building Workshop. Part of the top layer is removed to reveal the parking inside.

Photo: Renzo Piano Building Workshop

An overhead model of the new City Center proposed for suburban San... Photo-6442479.87870 - Beaumont Enterprise

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Architect Renzo Piano's conceptual sketch for the first block of San Ramon City Center boils the proposed complex down to its basics: two clean forms that would frame a landscaped "piazza." The small circle in the upper right is the parking ramp. less

Architect Renzo Piano's conceptual sketch for the first block of San Ramon City Center boils the proposed complex down to its basics: two clean forms that would frame a landscaped "piazza." The small circle in ... more

Renzo Piano's London Bridge Tower -- better known as "the Shard" -- is the tallest building in Western Europe at 1,0004 feet. It includes offices, housing and a hotel -- all of which are elements of the decidedly more horizontal San Ramon City Center now being designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop. less

Renzo Piano's London Bridge Tower -- better known as "the Shard" -- is the tallest building in Western Europe at 1,0004 feet. It includes offices, housing and a hotel -- all of which are elements of the ... more

Gallery filled with works by German artist Gerhard Richter in Renzo Piano's Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago. The Chicago skyline and Millennium Park seen through the windows.

Gallery filled with works by German artist Gerhard Richter in Renzo Piano's Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago. The Chicago skyline and Millennium Park seen through the windows.

Photo: Dave Jordano, Art Institute Of Chicago

Gallery filled with works by German artist Gerhard Richter in Renzo... Photo-6450572.87870 - Beaumont Enterprise

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The new wing at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston was designed by Renzo Piano, another of his high-profile museum additions in the United States.

The new wing at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston was designed by Renzo Piano, another of his high-profile museum additions in the United States.

Photo: Nic Lehoux, Renzo Piano Building Workshop

The new wing at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston was... Photo-2058259.87870 - Beaumont Enterprise

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The 52-story New York Times building, shown here in 2011, is one of the few non-cultural buildings designed by Renzo Piano in the United States.

The 52-story New York Times building, shown here in 2011, is one of the few non-cultural buildings designed by Renzo Piano in the United States.

Photo: Mark Lennihan, Associated Press

The 52-story New York Times building, shown here in 2011, is one of... Photo-3303282.87870 - Beaumont Enterprise

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The Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, completed in 1977, was the first building note designed by Renzo Piano. The architect he teamed with for the controversial project was England’s Richard Rodgers, later a finalist in the competition to design San Francisco’s new Transbay Transit Center. less

The Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, completed in 1977, was the first building note designed by Renzo Piano. The architect he teamed with for the controversial project was England’s Richard Rodgers, later a ... more